The men behind the man

Levell Coppage, behind an offensive line with four
new starters this season, is 480 yards from Nate Kmic's
all-divisions career rushing record.
By Daryl Tessmann, d3photography.com

There is no easy way to stop UW-Whitewater’s offense. Some
might say that there is no way, period. The legs of Levell Coppage
and the arm of Matt Blanchard get most of the attention, but it is
the entire unit’s attention to detail that has the Warhawks
offense churning through the postseason.

Coaches and players from Whitewater’s two most recent
playoff opponents all noted the way the Warhawks seem to operate in
unison on each snap. If you are hoping to catch a break due to a
Whitewater player missing his assignment, you will likely still be
waiting when the game clock strikes all zeroes. The commitment to
detail is the key to the Warhawks’ overpowering offensive
attack.

“It starts in the offseason with us putting in extra work
after practice to make sure we’re all on the same
page,” said first team All-West Region tackle Logan
Allemand.

Allemand entered the season as the only senior starter on the
offensive line. The offensive linemen, led by Allemand, put in
extra time in the offseason and throughout the season. The extra
work has paid dividends and the unit has been able to overcome
inexperience and injury.

“We watch film together, do walk throughs together, and
make sure we’re all in the same mind-set,” said
Allemand. “The younger guys have gotten enough experience
now. They do a really good job of listening.”

Coppage has rushed for 7,594 career yards to date, breaking
Justin Beaver’s school and WIAC records. With potentially two
games remaining, the NCAA all-divisions career rushing record is
480 yards away -- within striking distance.

“I’ve got to give all the credit to them,”
Coppage said of his offensive linemen, past and present.
“Those guys work in the trenches and don’t get the
recognition that they deserve. All of my appreciation goes to
them.”

With Coppage returning in the backfield and Gagliardi Trophy
finalist Matt Blanchard back at quarterback, the closest thing to a
question mark entering the season was how quickly the
Warhawks’ offensive line would come together. Allemand and
Ryan Olson were the most experienced linemen returning this year.
The younger players have stepped up and protected Blanchard while
paving the way for Coppage.

“I’m happy to see how they’ve come
along,” said Coppage of his less-experienced blockers.
“We have some young guys who are going to do great things for
the Whitewater program.”

Coppage came to Whitewater with loads of talent, but has become
a complete back over the past four seasons. He has rushed for over
1,000 yards each year and has learned the nuances of the position.
Instead of relying solely on his skills, Coppage now knows how to
play with patience and harmonize with the other ten members of the
offense.

“He’s trying to be aware of what the offensive
linemen, tight ends and wide receivers are doing. We teach reads at
each level of the defense,” running backs coach Nelson
Edmonds said.

“If you can be a great back, you can influence that third
level of a defense. I think Levell can influence the corndog vendor
in the stands.”

In addition to working with the linemen in practice on the
interior running game, the Warhawks backs spend practice time with
the offensive line working on blitz pickups. The coaching staff has
stressed the importance of picking up the blitz and converting on
third down, said Edmonds. Edmonds has a solid grasp of offensive
coordinator/offensive line coach Steve Dinkel’s philosophy,
which allows the backs to understand the grander scheme of the
system.

“I’ve worked with Coach Dinkel for nine or ten years
now,” said Edmonds. “I think we deliver a consistent
message.”

Edmonds has worked with Coppage to get the West Region
Co-Offensive Player of the Year to understand the system. Coppage
has bought in to the coaching and has developed the kind of
patience that makes him not only a dangerous threat to score every
time he touches the ball, but a complement to Blanchard and the
rest of the offense.

“I’m doing the same things I’ve always done,
but now I understand why I’m doing them,” said Coppage.
“Patience is the key, letting our linemen do their job and
finding the hole.”

“I think he’s become more disciplined. He always has
a knack that he wants to score every play in any way
possible,” said Edmonds. “Now, he’s buying into
discipline and that’s allowed his natural talent to shine
through even more.”

Coppage has rushed for over 200 yards in the Warhawks’
past two playoff victories. He will face a stout test this week
against St. Thomas’s top-ranked rush defense. The Tommies
allow just 47.85 rushing yards per game and are third in the nation
allowing just 9.38 points per game. The Tommies may focus on
Coppage, but they will do so at their own risk.

“You can’t just worry about stopping Levell. You
have to worry about our quarterback who’s playing great, and
our wide receivers,” said Edmonds. “Once Levell gets up
on you, he’s hard to stop.”

No matter how the Warhawks beat you offensively, there is always
one constant: the play of the offensive line. It would be hard
enough to stop a one-man show led by Coppage, but trying to stop a
unit of eleven consistent performers is something no opposing
defense has figured out in nearly three years. The running back and
the linemen feed off of one another.

“He’s the best athlete I’ve ever seen,”
said Allemand. “With Levell rushing for all these yards,
it’s something that we take pride in.”

When asked who is more tired at the end of a game, Coppage after
rushing for all those yards, or his linemen for paving the way for
him, the All-American running back once again deferred.

“Probably them,” he answered with a humble laugh.
“They usually stay in for more plays than I
do.”